Ballast cleaner



Jan. 30, 1968 J. D. HOLLEY 3,366,238

BALLAST CLEANER Filed Oct. 15, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet l I N VL N TOR. Job/7 D. hd/fy M M+W Af/armggs Jan. 30, 1968 J. D. HOLLEY 3,366,238

BALLAST CLEANER Filed Oct. 15, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 'j INVENTOR.

1 john D. Hal/g5 1/ BY g M, 7 I

Jan. 30, 1968 J. D. HOLLEY 3,366,238

' BALLAST CEEANER Filed Oct. 15, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VENTOR.

john D. Hal/ 1 M MfM Afforrrgys I Jan. 30, 1968 J. D. HOLLEY BALLAST CLEANER Filed on. 15, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,366,238 BALLAST CLEANER John D. Holley, Montgomery, Ala., assignor to Kershaw Manufacturing Co., Inc., a corporation of Alabama Filed Oct. 15, 1965, Ser. No. 496,438 3 Claims. (Cl. 209311) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Ballast cleaning apparatus having a supporting frame pivoted on a translatable frame for movement about an axis parallel to the length of the translatable frame. A shaker screen carried by and inclined relative to the supporting frame receives ballast at its upper end to separate ballast of a predetermined size from fine materials. Gravity controlled jack units connect the supporting frame to the translatable frame to limit lateral tilting of the shaker screen while the translatable frame is supported in a plane which is not laterally horizontal.

This invention relates to a ballast cleaner and more particularly to such apparatus which shall be adapted for movement along a railroad track in position to receive ballast delivered from an undercutter whereby the ballast is cleaned immediately upon removal from the roadbed.

An object of my invention is to provide a ballast cleaner of the character designated which shall include a shaker screen unit which is mounted on a translatable frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane transversely of the tranlatable frame, together with improved means to retain the shaker screen unit at selected pivoted positions relative to the translatable frame to prevent lateral tilting of the shaker screen unit While the translatable frame is supported out of a horizontal plane, thus permitting efiicient operation of the shaker screen while the apparatus is being moved around a curve in the railroad track.

Another object of my invention is to provide a ballast cleaner of the character designated which shall include improved means for transferring the cleaned ballast selectively to a position alongside the rails of a railroad track or to a position rearwardly of the cleaner.

A further object of my invention is to provide a ballast cleaner of the character designated which shall include means for distributing the ballast and materials to be separated therefrom evenly over the shaker screen whereby the shaker screen operates with maximum efficiency.

A still further object of my invention is to provide ballast cleaning apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economical of manufacture, and one which is compact whereby it may be operatively connected to a ballast removing unit to facilitate cleaning of the ballast after it is removed.

Briefly, my improved ballast cleaner comprises a translatable frame adapted to extend longitudinally of a railroad track and move along the railroad track rearwardly of a ballast removing unit. A supporting frame is mounted on the translatable frame for pivotal movement in a vertical plane transversely of the translatable frame. Mounted on an inclined longitudinally of the supporting frame is a shaker screen unit which is in position for its upper end to receive the ballast to be cleaned. Means is provided to retain the supporting frame at selected pivoted positions relative to the translatable frame to prevent lateral tilting of the shaker screen unit while the translatable frame is supported in positions other than in a true horizontal plane. Also, improved means is provided to distribute the ballast alongside the rails of a railroad track, or to convey the cleaned ballast to a position rearwardly of the apparatus. Also, improved means is provided to introduce the ballast to be cleaned in an even manner adjacent the upper end of the shaker screen unit and improved means is provided to discharge the materials separated from the ballast.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the ballast cleaner operatively connected to a ballast removing unit;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view, partly broken away, showing the ballast cleaner;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and drawn to a smaller scale;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a view taken generally along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FlG. 8 is a fragmentary view, partly broken away in sections showing the means for moving the jack units in opposite directions to lower one side of the supporting frame while the other side thereof is raised; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, sectional view taken generally along the line 99 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show translatable frames 10 and 10 which are supported by wheels 11 adapted for movement along rails 12 supported by cross ties 13 in the usual manner. While I have shown the translatable frames 10 and 10 as being separate units supported by the wheels 11, it will be apparent that the translatable frames could be formed as an integral unit since the translatable frame or frames do not pivot relative to the wheels 11.

A supporting frame 14 is pivotally connected to the translatable frames 10 and 10* by suitable pivot pins 16 and 16 whereby the supporting frame is adapted for pivotal movement in a vertical plane transversely of the translatable frame or frames. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the supporting frame 14 extends longitudinally of the translatable frame or frames and longitudinally of the rails 12. The supporting frame 14 is provided with longitudinally extending side members 17, which may be in the form of I-beams, and transverse members 18 which may also be in the form of I-beams. The translatable frames 10 and 10 are provided with upstanding frame members 19 which are disposed to fit between the I beams 18, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, in position to receive the pivot pins 16 and 16 Laterally extending brackets 21 are carried by opposite sides of the translatable frame 10, as shown in FIG. 6. Pivotally connected to each of the laterally extending brackets 21 by means of a pivot pin 22 is one element 23 of a jack unit indicated generally at 24. Another element 25 of the jack unit 24 is pivotally connected to the supporting frame 14 by a pivot pin 26. The elements 23 and 25 of the jack unit 24 are moved realtive to each other by a reversible fluid pressure operated motor 27, as shown in FIG. 8. Fluid under pressure is introduced at one side of each motor 27 by a conduit 28, having branches 28 and 28 Fluid under pressure is introduced at the opposite sides of the motors 27 by a conduit 29 having branch conduits 29 and 29 Fluid under pressure is introduced selectively into the conduits 28 and 29 by a control valve 31. With the control valve 31 in one position, fluid under pressure is introduced through the conduit 28 and branch conduits 28 and 28 to the motors 27 to thus drive the motors in opposite directions to extend one jack unit 24 while the other jack unit 24 is retracted. On the other hand, when the control valve 31 is in another position, the direction of rotation of the motors 27 is reversed whereby movement of the jack units 24 is also reversed. That is to say, the control valve 31 is connected to the fluid pressure operated motors 27 by the conduits 23 and 29 and their branch conduits to drive the motors 27 in a direction to pivot the supporting frame 14 laterally in one direction while the valve 31 is in one position and to drive the motors 27 in a direction to pivot the supporting frame laterally in the opposite direction while the valve 31 is in another position.

A gravity actuated control member 32 is carried by the supporting frame 14 and is connected to the control valve 31 to move the control valve selectively to positions to introduce fluid through the conduit 28 and the conduit 29 in response to lateral tilting of the supporting frame relative to the translatable frame. The gravity actuated control member 32 may be in the form of a pendulum 33, which is pivotally connected as at 34 to a depending bracket 36, which in turn is pivotally connected by a suitable hinge 37 to a portion of the supporting frame 14. Secured to the depending bracket 36 are downwardly extending support brackets 38 which support a container 39 for a suitable fluid 41. Mounted at the lower end of the pendulum 33 is a weight or pendulum mass 42. Movement of the pendulum mass 42 through the fluid 41 dampens movement thereof whereby actuation of the control valve 31 is stabilized. A flexible cover 43 is provided for the top of the container 39 which permits free movement of the pendulum 33 as the supporting frame 14 is moved relative to the translatable frame. By providing the hinge connection 37 between the depending bracket 36 and the supporting frame 14, the pendulum will always hang down in a generally vertical direction, regardless of the inclination of the rails 12. That is, as the apparatus is moving down an incline, the bracket 36 will pivot in one direction and will pivot in an opposite direction while the apparatus is moving up an incline.

Mounted on the supporting frame 14 are a pair of upper shaker screens 44 which are spaced laterally from each other, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9. Mounted beneath each of the upper shaker screens 44 is a lower shaker screen 46. The upper shaker screens 44 are provided with relatively large openings therethrough whereby the larger materials are separated from the smaller ballast materials. The lower shaker screens 46 are of a mesh to separate the ballast materials from dirt and other small size materials. The shaker screens 44 and 46 are supported between vertical side walls 47 of a shaker screen unit indicated generally at 48. The shaker screens 44 and 46 are inclined longitudinally of the supporting frame 14 and the rails 12 whereby the materials placed on the screens move downwardly and forwardly. The shaker screen unit 48 is vibrated by suitable vibrating units indicated generally at 49 to facilitate movement of the materials down the shaker screens.

Ballast materials and the materials to be separated therefrom are delivered to the upper end of the shaker screen 44 by a transverse auger-type conveyor 51 having flights which are disposed to move the materials from the center of the auger outwardly as the materials are introduced adjacent the center of the auger 51. That is, the auger 51 is provided with reverse auger sections at op posite sides of the center thereof whereby the materials are conveyed outwardly in the direction of the arrows 52 and 53, as shown in FIG. 9. To further facilitate even distribution of the materials onto the upper end of the screen 44, an upstanding baffle member 54 is positioned between the auger 51 and the shaker screens 44. The upper edge of the baffle member 54 slopes downwardly and outwardly from the central portion thereof to distribute to materials evenly along the upper surface of the shaker screens 44.

The ballast materials and the materials to be separated therefrom are introduced onto the central portion of the auger 51 by a suitable conveyor indicated generally at 56 which may be carried by a ballast removing unit 57. Preferably, the ballast removing unit 57 is of the type which continuously undercuts the ballast from beneath the crossties of the railroad track as the apparatus moves along the track.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, inverted, V-shaped deflector members 58 are mounted beneath the lower or discharge ends of the shaker screens 44 and 46 in position to deflect the ballast materials along both sides of the rail 12. That is, the deflector members 58 define with side wall 47 discharge openings 59 outwardly of the wheels 11 and a centrally disposed discharge opening 61 between the wheels 11. Accordingly, if it is desirable to return the ballast material to the roadbed after the ballast has been cleaned, the ballast materials are discharged continuously through the discharge openings 59 and 61, as the apparatus moves forward along the railroad track. On the other hand, where it is desired to transfer the cleaned ballast to another location, I provide a conveyor unit 62 intermediate the deflector members 58.

The ballast materials are directed to the conveyor unit 62 by a pair of movable baflle members 63 which are adapted to move from the solid line position shown in FIG. 4 to the dotted line position. Upon movement of the bafile members 63 to the dotted line position, the ballast is directed onto the conveyor unit 62 and at the same time the baffle members 63 prevent the passage of ballast materials downwardly through the openings 59 and 61. The baflie members 63 are hingedly mounted adjacent their lower edges to the supporting frame 14 and the upper edge of each baflle member is operatively connected to the piston rod 64 of a fluid pressure operated cylinder 66 whereby the baffle member may be moved selectively from the solid line position to the dotted line position. As shown in FIG. 4, the fluid pressure operated cylinder 66 is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 67 to a portion of the supporting frame 14. Also, as shown in FIG. 5, the bafile members 63 slope downwardly and inwardly toward the conveyor unit 62 to facilitate movement of the ballast into the conveyor unit. As shown in FIG. 4, the conveyor unit 62 may be in the form of an endless belt conveyor having an upper flight 68 and a lower flight 69. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper end of the conveyor unit 62 extends upwardly and rearwardly of the supporting frame 14 and is provided with a downwardly extending discharge section indicated generally at 71.

Mounted beneath each of the shaker screens 46 is an endless conveyor belt 72, which extends upwardly and rearwardly in generally parallel relation to the shaker screens 44 and 46. The conveyor belts 72 are in position to receive the dirt and other small size materials which have been separated from the ballast on the screens 44 and 46. Mounted on the supporting frame 14 in position to receive the materials discharged at the upper ends of the conveyor belts 72 is a horizontal auger unit 73 which is also provided with reverse flights at opposite sides of center. That is, the flights at one side of center are disposed to convey the materials inwardly in the direction of arrow 74 while the flights at the opposite side of center are disposed to convey the materials inwardly in the direction of the arrow 76. The auger unit 73 is provided with a discharge chute 77. Pivotally mounted adjacent the rear end of the supporting frame 14 is one end of an upwardly and rearwardly extending conveyor unit 78. The lower or receiving end of the conveyor unit 78 is in position to receive the dirt and other fine materials discharged from the chute 77. By pivotally mounting the conveyor unit 78 to the supporting frame 14, the dirt and other fine materials may be conveyed to a location laterally of the railroad track or may be conveyed to a location laterally of the railroad track or may be conveyed rearwardly into a suitable container, such as a railroad car.

In view of the fact that the conveyor belts and angers 51 and 73 are driven by conventional means, such as chain drives or the like, no further description thereof is deemed necessary.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my apparatus for cleaning ballast will be readily understood. As the ballast removing unit 57 is moved forwardly along the railroad track, the ballast is continuously removed from beneath the crossties whereupon it is transferred by the upwardly and rearwardly extending conveyor unit 56 onto the central portion of the auger 51. The auger 51 is driven in a direction for its reverse flight sections to convey the ballast and the materials to be separated therefrom outwardly in the direction of arrows 52 and 53 whereupon the materials are distributed evenly on the upper portion of shaker screen 44.

Since the shaker screen 44 is provided with relatively large openings therethrough, only the large materials are separated and remain on the uppermost shaker screen. The smaller ballast materials and the fine materials thus pass downwardly onto the lower shaker screens 46 whereupon the fine materials, such as dirt and the like, are discharged onto the conveyor belts 72. The ballast materials remaining on the screens 44 and 46 move downwardly toward the discharge ends thereof whereby the ballast is discharged through the openings 59 and 61 along both sides of the rails 12. That is, the ballast is discharged through the openings 59 and 61 while the movable bafile members 63 are in the solid line position shown in FIG. 4. On the other hand, when the baflie members 63 are moved to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 4 the ballast is directed downwardly and inwardly into the conveyor unit 62 whereupon the ballast is conveyed upwardly and rearwardly to the discharge chute 71. The deflector members 58 mounted between the openings 59 and 61 deflect the ballastwhereby it is distributed evenly along both sides of the rails 12 rather than being dumped directly onto the rails.

The fine materials, such as dirt and the like, are discharged onto the upwardly and rearwardly extending conveyor belts 72 and are then discharged into the auger unit 73 whereupon these materials are conveyed inwardly in the direction of the arrows 74 and 76 to the discharge chute 77. The fine materials are then discharged onto the upwardly and rearwardly extending conveyor 78. The conveyor 78 is pivoted to discharge the fine materials at a selected position, such as alongside the roadbed of the railroad track or into a railroad car.

As the apparatus moves along the railroad track, the pendulum 33 remains in a vertical position to thus actuate the control valve 31 when the translatable frame is supported out of a horizontal plane. That is, as the apparatus moves around a curve in the railroad track, one rail is at a higher elevation than the other rail whereby the translatable frame is supported out of a horizontal plane. This tilting movement of the translatable frame 10 causes the pendulum 33 to pivot about its pivot point 34 to operate the control valve 31, which, in turn, controls the flow of fluid under pressure to the fluid pressure operated motors 27 to thus drive the motors and the jack units 24 operatively connected thereto in a direction to level the shaker screens 44 and 46. Accordingly, the shaker screens 44 and 46 are automatically maintained in a level position regardless of the elevation of the rails 12 relative to each other.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved cleaner for ballast and the like which is efficient in operation regardless of the position that the translatable frame is supported relative to the horizontal. By providing control means for automatically levelling the supporting frame relative to the horizontal, the correct position of the supporting frame relative to the translatable frame is maintained at all times, thereby eliminating the necessity of having to make a substantial correction at one time, and at the same time assuring continuous and uniform operation of the shaker screen at all times.

By providing means for selectively discharging the cleaned ballast onto the railroad track adjacent opposite sides of each rail or at a desired position rearwardly of the apparatus, I greatly facilitate the handling of the ballast after it is cleaned. Also, by providing the auger unit having oppositely disposed conveying flights thereon, together with the upstanding baflle member having upper edges which slope downwardly and outwardly, the ballast materials and the materials to be separated therefrom are distributed evenly onto the upper portion of the upper shaker screen. Furthermore, by providing the auger un1t having oppositely disposed flights thereon for conveying the fine materials inwardly toward a discharge chute, the fine materials discharged at the upper ends of the laterally spaced conveyor belts are conveyed inwardly toward a common discharge chute whereupon they are then discharged onto a pivoted conveyor for disposal of the materials at any desired position relative to the apparatus.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set for in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for cleaning ballast comprising:

(a) a translatable frame mounted for movement along a railroad track,

(b) a supporting frame pivoted on said translatable frame for movement about an axis parallel to the length of said translatable frame and in a vertical plane transversely of said translatable frame and the railroad track,

(c) at least one planar shaker screen carried by and inclined longitudinally of said supporting frame,

(d) means to introduce ballast to be cleaned adjacent an upper portion of said shaker screen to separate fine materials from ballast of a predetermined size to discharge said ballast of a predetermined size adjacent the lower portion of said shaker screen and to pass the fine materials through said shaker screen,

(e) gravity controlled fluid pressure operated jack units connecting said translatable frame to said supporting frame at opposite sides of the pivotal connection between said supporting frame and said translatable frame retaining said supporting frame at selected pivoted positions relative to said translatable frame to limit lateral tilting of said shaker screen while said translatable frame is supported in a plane which is not laterally horizontal, and

(f) means operatively connecting said jack units to each other so that they move in opposite directions to lower one side of said supporting frame while the other side thereof is raised.

2. Apparatus for cleaning ballast as defined in claim 1 in which the adjustable jack units are operated by reversible, fluid pressure operated motors and means is provided to introduce fluid under pressure to said motors to drive one motor in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the other motor.

3. Apparatus for cleaning ballast as defined in claim 2 in which the means to introduce fluid under pressure to said motors comprise:

(a) a control valve operatively connected to said fluid pressure operated motors to drive said motors in a direction to pivot said supporting frame laterally in one direction while said valve is in one position and to drive said motors in a direction to pivot said supporting frame laterally in the opposite direction while said valve is in another position, and

(b) a gravity actuated control member carried by said supporting frame and operatively connected to said control valve to move said control valve to said one position and said another position in response to lateral tilting movement of said supporting frame in opposite directions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8 2/ 1956 Talboys 209421 X 11/ 1957 McWilliams 209421 X 4/1958 Farber 209416 7/1959 Zollinger 209416 X 6/1965 Stroburg 209416 FOREIGN PATENTS 12/1964 France. 12/ 1931 Germany.

1/ 1926 Great Britain.

HARRY B. THORNTON, Primary Examiner.

R. HALPER, Assistant Examiner. 

